Black Mountain - North Approach

DISTANCE: 4 miles
TIME: 2 hours
DIFFICULTY: Moderate
ELEVATION: 1,536 ft

The Black Mountain Open Space Preserve is becoming more popular now that the north trailhead parking lot has been made easily accessible with the completion of Carmel Valley Road near 4S Ranch. Black Mountain is one of the more prominent peaks in North County and is distinguished by several radio towers at its summit. At the parking lot there is a kiosk which contains high quality colored brochures with a map of the area. The map can also be downloaded by following this link. I would definitely recommend taking a map on this hike.

The Preserve has a network of several hiking trails, some more obscure than others, but generally if you head in the direction you want to go you will eventually meet up with a trail that was designed to take you there, but not everything is clearly marked. The more traversed route up Black Mountain is a fire road that gradually ascends up the south face, and I have posted a description of this route in a previous post. Here I will describe a route up the north face via a trail called the "Miner's Ridge Loop Trail," as designated on the map.

Start at the gated entrance to the parking lot off Carmel Valley Road near 4S Ranch. The Miner's Ridge Loop Trail heads east (left) from the kiosk. The trail is broad at first and is lined with wooden fence posts, some of which designate closed trails. There are a lot of interpretive markers identifying native plants, but to be honest, this chaparral is probably something only a botanist could be excited about.

After about 1/3 of a mile, you'll notice a broad trail off to the left which is marked keep out. It leads to a steep ravine where the remains of an old arsenic mine can be found. According to one hiker, the mine was built in 1926, operated for a year, then was closed. I guess arsenic can be used for rat poison but also gun powder. Along other segments of the Miner's Ridge Loop Trail you'll be able to look back and see a long smokestack resembling a concrete pipeline laid against the hillside. The picture to the left was taken from another website.

About 1/2 mile into the hike, you come to a fork, where the loop begins. If you just want to do the loop, then it doesn't matter which direction you go at the fork. However, if you want the quickest route to the Black Mountain summit, follow the fork to the left. The trail narrows and the brush thickens and forms walls on each side. There are also a few designated but obscure viewpoint trails along the way which end with a bench, but take my word for it, press forward to the summit for the real viewpoint.

After about 3/4 mile, be looking for another trail on the left side. This is a short 1/4 mile trail that dips down to a low point and quickly ascends again and connects you to the "Nighthawk Trail" as designated on the map. When you meet up with the Nighthawk trail, be sure to go right, and after a few hundred yards you'll meet up with the main fire road up to the summit which should be within view (the radio towers).

Less than a mile later, you'll enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view, and most of the major San Diego peaks will be within view on a clear day. The day of this post, I could clearly see the Coronado Islands in Mexico, as well as the faint outline of San Clemente and Santa Catalina.